CGIS Pre-Departure

Orientation
Winter 2017

Advisor Component

CGIS Advisor
Sarah Pauling, Intercultural Programs Advisor

Orientation Objectives
Discuss
Program specificsarrival, itinerary, on-site staff
Health/safety
Living abroadcultural differences,
personal identities, meaningful engagement!
Academic expectations
Pre-departure logistics: M-Compass requirements,
billing, course registration, etc.

Meet
Your CGIS advisor
Other program participants
The faculty director/instructor (if applicable)
Previous CGIS alumni from your program!

Administrative Matters

M-Compass Requirements
Your Checklist is Almost Complete!
Make sure to sign the three participation documents after receiving your
formal CGIS acceptance Email. Several programs may still not be
accepted yet, timelines vary!
Enter your travel itinerary once you have booked flights
Checked off for Program Specific Orientation after today!
Health Care Provider Clearance Form
(If applicable you will see it in your checklist)
Side Trip Registration Information
Make sure to stay on top of any requirements from third
Party provider, host institution, ect.
Online Orientations
Passports

Course Registration &

Approval
Register for appropriate STDABRD course
Discuss courses with academic advisors.
Complete CGIS Academic Advisor Approval Form
Pass/Fail requests
Keep syllabi and materials from courses.
Remember to register for winter term if you are abroad during fall or academic
year

Billing

April 1st- Spring

June 1st- Summer
August 1st- Academic Year/Fall

Note! Billing varies by program type

Payments due within 30 days after fees posted to your student

account

Payment plan options may be possible only for Fall or

Academic Year through Student Financial Services

Tuition waivers

Reference program budget sheet

Financial Aid/Scholarships
U-M financial aid and U-M scholarships posted to your
student account apply to CGIS fees.
LSA Global Experience Scholarship funds post about
15 days after CGIS fees are billed.
Any excess financial aid/scholarship funds on student
account are disbursed according to the universitys
normal disbursement timeline
Sign up for direct deposit

Keep in Touch with CGIS

Connect with us on
social media and email us
us photos while abroad to
cgis@umich.edu for our
new Instagram.
Staying in contact with
your advisor while abroad.

Tips & Resources

CGIS general information
CGIS program-specific handbook supplement
Online orientations
Partner handbooks, websites, resources, staff
Travel guides
Culture resources (UM Library, CultureGrams)
Language practice (UM Language Resource Center)
Department of State travel information

Returnee Component

Hello!

My name is
Rachel
Connolly

Todays Agenda

Introductions & Icebreaker

Resources

Program Overview

On-Site Arrival Info and First Couple

of Days

Academics

Before You Go Logistics and To-Do

List
o

Visas

Packing

Research

Budget

Communication

Housing

Excursions and Cultural Activities

Cultural Scenarios

Q&A

Helpful Resources
Where online can students find information about the program? What
websites should they bookmark?

Show video virtual tours of cities by linking them

through Youtube.

Link to student-run, study abroad blogs!

Visit travel.state.gov/[yourcountry] for

passport information and customs.

***Examples Only***

Program Overview

What does a typical day look like?

What staff members were available to assist
you with questions or problems?

Arrival

Academics
Describe the typical class set-up.
Take classes at IES Center
with only IES students.
Everyone is required to
take German M Th
morning.

On-Site Health
Insurance
Health Insurance
CGIS and IES Insurance
Pay private doctor up front and then submit for reimbursement.
Its common for doctors to make house calls.

Pharmacy (Apotheke)
Apotheke usually look like fancy boutique type places.

OTC drugs are literally sold over the counter. You must talk to a pharmacist first and
theyll recommend something.

In Berlin, almost every pharmacist speaks English.

There are many more herbal medications available in Germany. May be more
effective. Write down the medications of drugs you usually take because brand
names are different.

Registration
Be sure to register for the
appropriate STDABRD
number on Wolverine
Access! This will act as a
placeholder for the
credits you will receive
from abroad.
Register for 15 credits.
Find the appropriate course
number in your CGIS
Supplemental Handbook.

Visas

U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter the Schengen zone.

German authorities will need your passport
Non-US citizens should check always check with their consulate and if
necessary the International Center here on campus.

After Booking Your

Flight...
Report your flight information to CGIS.
You can complete the Travel Itinerary in your MCompass Account.

Booking Your Flight

Skyscanner
Momondo

Insert personal pictures of your

arrival - packing, planes, trains, etc.

Communication
Phones
If you plan to bring your cell phone,
check with your carrier about
arrangements and cost.
Were there apps you found useful?
What expectations did you set with
your family/friends before going
abroad?

Internet
When/where did you connect to the
internet?
What were differences in technology
use in your host country compared to
U.S.?

Travel Prep and Packing

Tips

Living Arrangements
Homestay
At least one person in your host family will speak English unless you want a language
immersion experience!
Most students lived in Mitte, Shoeneberg, and Kreuzberg between 5 and 40 min from school.
Apartments are smaller than in the US usually not a lot of common living space.
You are responsible for your own food & toiletries. Most students also contributed to
household expenses (paper towels, toilet paper, soap).
IES definitely takes your preferences into account think about whats important to you!
Tell IES if youre having significant problems. If needed, they can and will move you.

Cultural Excursions and

Local Activities

Cultural Excursions and

Local Activities
Talk about good foods
to try!
Any fun dancing
place (if culturally
appropriate)?
Where can they find
out more research!?

Neighborhoods in Berlin

Cultural Scenarios
***EXAMPLES***
1.

You made it to the Buenos Aires airport after your international flight. The plan is to be picked up at the airport and
taken to your host family. When you go through Customs and get your bags though, no one is waiting for you. What
things do you think will be disorienting or overwhelming during these first moments in Argentina? What resources do
you want to make sure you have with you to make sure you feel prepared and confident in the event that arrival
doesnt go as smooth as it could?

2.

After having been here sometime, you still dont feel like your Spanish is improving. You are finding it difficult to
participate in class, and are having trouble communicating with your homestay family who doesnt seem to
understand that they have to speak slow and that you are catching only about 10% of what they say. How do you feel?
What can you do?

3.

You find the hot shower at your homestay house to be cold. After your homestay family demonstrates the correct way
to use it, you still find it to be barely lukewarm

4.

You generally avoid eating red meat. Your homestay family serves you red meat the first day for lunch. Do you say
something to your family? If so what do you say?

5.

Every member of your host family greets you with a kiss on each cheek upon your arrival to their home. How will you
feel with this increased amount of affection in everyday life?

6.

You have never been in a big city before, so this is your first time navigating a subway system. You and a group of
friends are trying to go to La Boca and your friends get off but you miss the door closing and the train keeps going.
What steps would you take to meet back up with the group?

7.

You sit down to dinner with your host family and they ask you very directly to explain the US political climate as well as
your thoughts and opinions. Are you comfortable talking about these types of issues? What topics might you want to
ask them around meals?

Thanks!

Any
Questions ?

You can find me at

rshconn@umich.edu